Passport for validity and ESTA etc

[paulfoel]

Am I right in saying that there is no longer the requirment to have 6 months left on your passport when visiting the US any more?

I've looked at a few websites but I'm still a little unclear. Our passports expire in January and we're planning Orlando for September or October.

Also, is there any way of checking ESTA? We went last October and got ESTA but I cant find the printout. Just wanted to check status just in case.

 

[wilma-bride]

The question regarding passport validity was answered here just a few days ago but I can't seem to find the thread now

Anyway, I think the general concensus is that it is not a requirement of entry to the US that you have 6 months left on your passport, as long as it is valid for your stay. However, some carriers (not Virgin but some of the Charter airlines) can try and insist on you having at least 6 months validity remaining from your date of return. I think, if it is a condition of booking, there is probably not much you can do about it either. Personally, I would renew to be on the safe side if you are only likely to have 2 or 3 months left.

As far as ESTA, without the numbers, I don't think there is any way to check or update them. However, if your ESTA was obtained last October, it should be valid for 2 years. And if you previously managed to enter the US with it, there is probably no reason to doubt it's validity. Previously, I would have said just do it again but now there is a charge, that seems a bit pointless. As long as you are sure you have registered and been granted ESTA within the 2 years previous to your travelling date, I would say you are OK.

 

[jtlover]

Depends who you book with. Virgin are ok and allow 2 months on the passport but if you book with Thomas Cook you must have 6 months.

We had 2 months left and was completely fine with Virgin last year

 

[paulfoel]

Ah. Didnt realise some of the airlines were funny about it.

What about the scheduled airlines? We tend to use these. i.e. Continental, Delta etc.

 

[wayneg]

Virgin, BA & all the American carriers stick to the rules, we have an agreement between the 2 countries which allows you to travel with a valid passport, NO 6 month rule.
Charters are more unclear, I have been reading various Disney/Florida forums for the past 8 years, I have still to see a post where someone has been denied entry yet rumours say you could be refused boarding. Personally I don't see why they would refuse boarding when then there is no 6 month rule, the airlines know the rules.
I can only assume the confusion comes from calls to airlines/tour ops/holiday companies the staff on the phones are told to say 6 months as its easier to give a blanket answer than find out the correct info for each individual country.

Answer here for US C&BP https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/905
There is a link to the countries which waive the 6 month rule, we are in that list.

As Joh says though, consider renewing early, upto 9 months of your old passport can be added to a new one so you don't lose out.

 

[paulfoel]

Cheers Wayne....

Its also something to do with visa waiver. This normally lasts 90 days so if you dont have 90 days left on your passport you cant have 90 days.

Would have thought that they'd just issue you with a shorter Visa waiver but, apparently, the airlines get fined if they take you to the US and screw this bit up. Perhaps through ignorance this is why they stick to 6 months just in case....

 

[JohnW]

You don't need to have 6 months left to enter the US but if your passport expires less than 90 days after you enter you will only be approved to stay up until the expiry date and not the full 90 days.

You can retrieve your ESTA number on the ESTA site as long as you know your name (!), DoB, Passport number and Passport issue location.

 

[wayneg]

Cheers Wayne....

Its also something to do with visa waiver. This normally lasts 90 days so if you dont have 90 days left on your passport you cant have 90 days.

Would have thought that they'd just issue you with a shorter Visa waiver but, apparently, the airlines get fined if they take you to the US and screw this bit up. Perhaps through ignorance this is why they stick to 6 months just in case....

Not sure what you mean, Visa Waiver has been replaced by ESTA which lasts for 2 years.
When it was Visa Waiver it was US immigration that gave you it not the airlines.
As I put in last post I know of no airline who has refused boarding with less than 6 months or any post(I have seen some posts but not with a UK passports, others have different rules) all I have seen is rumours you won't be accepted or call centres giving wrong info.

Personally I would be 100% confident going with even 1 month left on my passport but if its going to cause you any concern just renew early.

 

[paulfoel]

Not sure what you mean, Visa Waiver has been replaced by ESTA which lasts for 2 years.
When it was Visa Waiver it was US immigration that gave you it not the airlines.
As I put in last post I know of no airline who has refused boarding with less than 6 months or any post(I have seen some posts but not with a UK passports, others have different rules) all I have seen is rumours you won't be accepted or call centres giving wrong info.

Personally I would be 100% confident going with even 1 month left on my passport but if its going to cause you any concern just renew early.

Nah, happy now its in black and white!!!

 

[paulfoel]

Thought I'd email delta to check and got this strange email from them :-

Dear Mr Williams,

Thank you for contacting Delta Air Lines.


Further to your request please note that in order to be able to issue a ticket you need to comply with the necessary passport and visa requirements.

The information are collected for local authorities. As a matter of fact your passport needs to have a validity of minimum 6 months and for the USA it is mandatory to provide secure flight details before the issuance of the ticket.

Yours sincerely,

Delta Air Lines Web Support Team

 

[paulfoel]

Found this now which seems to indicate the agent is wrong.

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/t...PASSTYPES=PASS&DE=US&user=DL&subuser=DELTAB2C

Wish this wasnt so unclear. Got 7 weeks to go otherwise I'd just get new passport but dont want the stress of it being delayed and waiting for it to arrive !!!!!

 

[suzybear6]

Paul there really isn't any need to worry yourself over this. The official guildines from the US government, and which your airline refers to, state very clearly that you only need a passport valid for your length of stay in the US. Anyone who tells you something else doesn't know what they are talking about and you can ignore anything they say.

If it makes you feel safer just take a copy of the official guidelines and also that page from Delta to show anyone you (most likely won't) meet along your way.

I flew last October with Virgin with 2 months left on my passport and both my children had 5 months left...honestly, no one said a thing about them almost running out and that includes the US imigration guy who's job it is to check our passport to make sure they are valid

hth
Luv Suzy

 

[wayneg]

Delta are correct, there is a 6 month rule but the UK has an agreement the waive the 6 month rule, I doubt very much an airline would dare say in writing there is no 6 month rule without knowing the full details of the person going. Its a standard reply from most airlines either by email or phone, they will not comment on individual cases.

 

[paulfoel]

Delta are correct, there is a 6 month rule but the UK has an agreement the waive the 6 month rule, I doubt very much an airline would dare say in writing there is no 6 month rule without knowing the full details of the person going. Its a standard reply from most airlines either by email or phone, they will not comment on individual cases.

Yeh. Seen all the official stuff but I understand that an airlines t+cs can override this. i.e. insist on 6 months.

 

[suzybear6]

Yeh. Seen all the official stuff but I understand that an airlines t+cs can override this. i.e. insist on 6 months.

And you have it in black and white that Delta do not overrule this rule, so you've no need to worry about it anymore

Luv Suzy

 

[paulfoel]

And you have it in black and white that Delta do not overrule this rule, so you've no need to worry about it anymore

Luv Suzy

Yeh. You're right I suppose reading it back. Just wished they'd have said, yes you;re fine end of.

 

[suzybear6]

Yeh. You're right I suppose reading it back. Just wished they'd have said, yes you;re fine end of.

Why don't you email that guy at Delta back with a copy of the revant document from his own company and see what he says then? You might just get that "yes you're fine" then

Luv Suzy

 

[paulfoel]

Why don't you email that guy at Delta back with a copy of the revant document from his own company and see what he says then? You might just get that "yes you're fine" then

Luv Suzy

Have done. No reply yet....